ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca women’s soccer team (13-4-1), ranked 22nd by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), defeated Stevens Institute of Technology (6-12-0) 1-0 in an Empire 8 semifinal Saturday afternoon at Carp Wood Field. Ithaca outshot Skidmore 37-2 in the game.
Ithaca, the tournament’s host and top seed, advances to Sunday’s Empire 8 final against second-seeded Nazareth. The game is at noon.
Despite holding a decisive shot advantage throughout the contest, Ithaca didn’t break through on the scoreboard until just 12:41 remained in the second half. Graduate student midfielder Lauren Koppel (Southside/Rockville Center) scored the game-winning goal off a corner kick. Freshman midfielder Julie Winn (Sutton/Sutton, Mass.) crossed the ball from the right corner and Koppel rose to head in the shot at the near post from six yards out.
Ithaca junior goalkeeper Jessica Platt (Monument Mountain/New Marlborough, Mass.) earned her second shutout of the season and made just one save in the game. Stevens goalkeeper Kaitlyn McClymont made 17 saves, including a diving stop on a close-range shot from Bomber senior midfielder Amy Scheffer (Schalmont/Schenectady) in the 59th minute. The Bombers also had three shots denied by the crossbar or goalpost.
Ithaca is seeking its seventh Empire 8 championship. Sunday’s championship game winner will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship tournament. The tournament field will be announced Sunday night.
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